/ 


CONTENTS. 


PAGES. 

Preface 3 

Argentine  Republic 4 

Bolivia 5 

Brazil 7 

Chile 8 

Colombia 9 

Costa  Rica 11 

Cuba 12 

Dominican  Republic 14 

Ecuador 15 

Guatemala 16 

Haiti 17 

Honduras *. 18 

Mexico:  Federal  District;  State  of  Yucatan 19 

Nicaragua 21 

Panama 22 

Paraguay 22 

Peru 26 

Salvador 27 

Uruguay 29 

Venezuela 30 


2 


PREFACE. 


The  number  of  students  coming  from  the  Latin  American  countries  to  continue 
their  studies  in  institutions  of  the  United  States  has  been  increasing  greatly  during 
the  last  four  years.  With  the  purpose  of  facihtating  the  process  of  their  admission 
to  colleges  or  technical  schools,  the  Section  of  Education  of  the  Pan  American  Union 
has  prepared  this  monograph. 

The  aim  has  been  to  present  in  a concrete  and  clear  manner  the  primary  and  second- 
ary school  preparation  which  these  students  have  had  in  their  respective  countries. 
This  is,  therefore,  a cross-section  of  the  public  school  systems  of  the  Latin  American 
republics,  showing  the  place  of  secondary  education  in  its  relation  to  primary  and 
higher  education.  The  important  facts  presented  under  each  country  are:  grades 
(or  years)  covered  by  •primary  school;  secotviary  school  course,  specifying  subjects,  periods 
per  •week,  length  of  recitation  period,  length  of  school  year,  and  relation  of  the  secondary 
school  course  to  higher  studies.  Incidentally  a few  other  facts,  which  may  be  of  interest 
to  the  student  of  School  Administration,  have  been  added  whenever  it  has  been  pos- 
sible to  obtain  them,  using  the  latest  official  data  available. 

Some  of  the  terms  employed  need  brief  explanation. 

Colegio,  liceo,  instituto  and  escuela  preparatoria,  are  the  different  names  given  in 
Latin  America  to  schools  corresponding  to  the  United  States  high  school,  and  in 
every  case,  they  mean  secondary  school. 

America  and  American,  used  in  expressions  like  “geography  of  America”  or  “Ameri- 
can History,”  refer  to  the  whole  American  continent. 

Bachiller  designates  as  a rule  the  diploma  or  degree  given  upon  the  completion  of 
the  secondary  school  course.  It  is  sometimes  conferred  after  four,  five  or  six  years 
of  strictly  secondary  education;  in  other  cases  after  four  years  of  general  secondary 
education  and  one  or  two  years  of  professional  preparatory  work.  This  means  that 
the  preparation  necessary  to  secure  the  diploma  of  bachiller  is  not  uniform,  and  that 
each  case  must  be  considered  separately;  but  in  no  instance  does  the  term  bachiller 
correspond  to  the  Bachelor’s  degree  granted  by  United  States  colleges. 

The  fact  that  the  Latin  American  student  has,  as  a prerequisite  for  admission  to 
secondary  school,  a primary  school  preparation  of  only  five  or  six  years,  does  not  neces- 
sarily mean  that  he  is  not  as  well  prepared  in  the  fundamental  subjects  as  the  United 
States  student.  There  are  several  reasons  for  this,  among  others  the  phonetic  struc- 
ture of  the  languages  derived  from  Latin,  which  do  not  require  so  much  of  the  school 
time  to  be  devoted  to  spelling.  Another  reason  is  found  in  the  earlier  psychological 
development  of  Latin  American  children. 

The  Section  of  Education  estabhshed  in  1917  by  direction  of  the  Governing  Board 
of  the  Pan  American  Union  is  in  charge  of  the  educational  activities  of  the  organiza" 
tion.  It  keeps  in  touch  with  the  educational  institutions  of  the  United  States  and  of 
the  Latin  American  countries.  Since  the  motive  inspiring  its  work  is  the  desire  to 
promote  an  educational  understanding  among  the  countries  of  the  Union,  it  is  ready 
to  cooperate  with  all  institutions  and  individuals  working  along  similar  lines. 

This  monograph  has  been  prepared  by  Arturo  Torres,  A.  M.,  formerly  Genera^ 
Superintendent  of  Education  in  Costa  Rica,  now  assisting  the  Section  of  Education 
as  speciahst  in  School  Administration. 

Fbancisco  J.  YAnes, 

In  Charge  of  the  Section  of  Education. 


3 


LATIN  AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS 
COURSES  OF  STUDY 


ARGENTINE  REPUBLIC. 

SECONDARY  education  is  imparted  in  schools  called  Colegios 
Nacionales  (National  Secondary  Schools)  and  in  private  schools 
called  Colegios  Incorporados,  which  are  under  government  supervi- 
sion; there  are  also  estudiantes  libres,  or  privately  prepared  students. 
The  regular  pupils  pay  an  annual  registration  fee  of  15  pesos  (1  peso  = 
SO. 47).  To  enter  the  first  year  of  the  national  secondary  schools  a stu- 
dent must  be  12  years  of  age  and  be  certificated  from  the  sixth  grade  of 
the  elementary  schools. 

By  a decree  of  the  1st  of  March,  1916,  secondary  education  was  reor- 
ganized, and  the  intermediate  school  was  created;  but  in  February, 
1917,  the  plan  of  1912  was  reestablished  with  several  modifications,  the 
principal  one  being  the  suppression  of  the  sixth  year.  Thus  the  present 
plan  consists  of  five  years’  work,  as  follows : 


Subjects. 

Periods  a week  by  years. 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

V. 

6 

3 

3 

Literature,  literarj-  theory;  literature  of  Argentina  and  of 

3 

3 

3 

3 

4 

4 

4 

3 

4 

3 

4 

3 

3 

2 

4 

4 

3 

2 

3 

II.  Mathematics: 

3 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

4 

Geography: 

2 

3 

4 

2 

Biological  sciences: 

3 

3 

3 

2 

5 

6 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

1 

1 

25 

28 

29 

31 

31 

'See  Preface  as  to  use  of  words  “American”  and  “America.” 


4 


LATIN- AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


5 


The  class  period  is  45  minutes  and  the  school  year  is  about  180  work- 
ing days.  Upon  completing  successfully  the  aforesaid  course  the  student 
receives  the  diploma  of  bachiller  (bachelor). ^ 

In  Argentina  there  are  38  Colegios  Nacionales  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  the  General  Inspector  of  Secondary,  Normal  and  Special  Educa- 
tion, with  a registration  of  11,022  students  and  an  annual  budget  of 
5,453,994  pesos.  There  are  39  private  secondary  schools  with  a registra- 
ion  of  3,288  students;  moreover  each  of  the  three  National  Universities, 
of  Buenos  Aires,  La  Plata  and  Cordoba,  has  a secondary  school  depart- 
ment, figures  for  which  are  not  available.  The  ColegioNacional  de  Buenos 
Aires,  connected  with  the  University  of  that  name,  is  conducted  on  a 
different  plan  from  the  other  national  secondary  schools.  The  condi- 
tions of  entrance  are  the  same,  but  the  course  covers  a period  of  six  years, 
at  the  termination  of  which  the  diploma  of  bachiller  is  granted.  It  also 
differs  from  the  others  in  that  their  graduates  must  take  an  examination 
for  entrance  into  any  of  the  faculties  of  the  University  of  Buenos  Aires, 
while  graduates  from  the  Colegio  Nacional  de  Buenos  Aires  enter  directly. 
No  fixed  correlation  of  studies  has  been  established  between  this  and  the 
other  national  secondary  schools;  the  case  of  each  applicant  is  decided 
on  its  own  merits. 

On  October  31,  1918,  the  Minister  of  Public  Instruction  presented  to 
the  National  Congress  a draft  of  an  “Organic  Law  of  Public  Instruction.” 
In  this  bill  the  same  6 years  of  primary  education  are  left  as  a requisite 
for  entrance  upon  secondary  education;  the  latter  is  reduced  to  4 years 
of  common  general  studies  and  a preparatory  course  is  established  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  universities,  which  shall  fix  its  curriculum,  the 
length  of  the  course  and  its  degree  of  specialization.  The  completion 
of  the  four  years  of  secondary  education  will  give  the  student  the  diploma 
of  bachiller  and  the  right  to  enter  the  preparatory  course. 

Data  taken  from : 

Anuario  del  Estudiante:  Cabaut  y Cia,  Buenos  Aires,  1918. 

Programas;  Cabaut  y Cia,  Buenos  Aires,  1918. 

Memoria  del  Ministerio  de  Justicia  e Instruccion  Publica,  1917 
and  1918. 

Proyecto  de  Ley  Organica  de  Instruccion  Publica,  1918. 

BOLIVIA. 

The  law  governing  secondary  education  in  Bolivia  is  that  of  December 
12,  1908,  amended  by  decree  of  October  12,  1909,  which  abolished  the 
7th  year  of  secondary  school  work.  Subsequently  there  have  been  intro- 
duced the  few  changes  mentioned  later  on. 

According  to  the  law  of  1908  pupils  11  years  of  age  who  had  passed 
the  first  four  grades  of  the  elementary  school  were  admitted  to 
the  first  year  of  the  secondary  school.  This  was  modified  by  decree  of 
September  5,  1918,  which  established  six  years  of  elementary  education 
as  the  obligatory  requirement  for  entrance  into  secondary  schools. 


'See  Preface  as  to  relative  significance  of  “bachiller”  and  “bachelor.” 


6 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


The  course  of  study  is  as  follows: 


Subjects. 


Periods  a week  by  years. 


II. 


III. 


IV. 


V. 


VI. 


Required. 

National  language  (Spanish) 

Calculation  and  mathematics 

History 

Geography 

Natural  history 

Physics 

Chemistry  and  mineralogy 

Moral  instruction  and  philosophy .... 
French  (see  paragraph  below) ........ 

English  (see  paragraph  below) 

Drawing  and  penmanship 

School  games  and  gymnastics 


Manual  training 

Music  and  singing  . . . 
Religious  instruction . 


Optional. 


26 

1 

1 

1 


28 

1 

1 

1 


28 

1 

1 

1 


32 


32 


32 


The  above  course  of  study  was  modified  by  decree  of  September  2, 
1918,  as  follows:  (1)  The  study  of  only  one  modern  language,  French 
or  English,  is  required  in  secondary  and  normal  schools,  according  to 
the  preference  of  the  student;  (2)  students  shall  indicate  on  registering 
the  modern  language  they  wish  to  take ; (3)  the  .two  modern  languages 
mentioned  shall  be  taught  in  every  year  of  the  secondary  and  normal 
school  course,  and  the  daily  programs  shall  be  accordingly  modified  by 
the  proper  school  authorities. 

Upon  completing  the  six  years  of  secondary  education  the  student 
must  take  the  examination  for  the  diploma  of  Bachiller  en  Ciencias  or 
en  Letras  (Bachelor  of  Science  or  Letters).  To  enter  the  law  school, 
both  diplomas  are  required,  but  only  one  is  necessary  for  matriculation 
in  the  schools  of  medicine,  pharmacy,  dentistry,  commerce,  civil  and 
mining  engineering.^ 

The  length  of  the  school  year  is  40  weeks;  the  class  period  is  45  minutes, 
and  the  number  of  recitation  periods  per  week  should  not  exceed  26 
to  29  in  the  first  years  and  30  to  32  periods  in  the  last  years. 

Secondary  instruction  is  given  in  schools  called  Colegios  Nacionales 
or  Ldceos,  of  which  there  are  14  with  an  enrollment  of  1,795  boys  and  338 
girls.  The  annual  registration  fee  is  10  bolivianos  (1  boliviano  =$0.39 
gold).  There  are  also  independent  or  private  secondary  schools,  which 
have  the  same  course  of  study  and  regulations  as  the  official  institutions, 
and  with  a registration  of  1,104  pupils. 

Data  taken  from: 

Memoria  de  Justicia  e Instruccion  Publica,  La  Paz,  1909. 

Memoria  de  Justicia  e Instruccion  Publica,  La  Paz,  1910. 

Memoria  de  Instruccion  Publica  y Agricultura,  La  Paz,  1918. 

lAt  present  there  is  a strong  tendency  toward  changing  the  course  of  study  by  divMing  it  into  two 
cycles:  one  comprising  four  years  of  common  studies,  and  another  of  two  years  for  differentiated  and 
preparatory  work. 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOEB. 


7 


BRAZIL. 

On  March  18, 1915,  decree  No.  11,530  was  issued  reorganizing  second- 
ary and  higher  education.  By  this  decree  it  is  provided  that:  (1)  the 
Federal  Government  shall  continue  to  maintain  the  secondary  school 
called  the  Collegio  Pedro  II  (School  of  Peter  the  Second),  at  Rio  de 
Janeiro;  (2)  the  academies  (secondary  schools)  that  wish  to  have  their 
diplomas  recorded  by  federal  authorities  shall  apply  to  the  Conselho 
Superior  do  Ensino  (National  Council  of  Education),  so  that  the  latter 
may  appoint  an  inspector  to  investigate  the  length  of  time  that  the  school 
has  been  open,  its  examinations,  laboratories,  teaching  staff,  income  and 
the  taxes  that  it  should  pay  for  official  inspection;  (3)  the  length  of  the 
school  year  shall  be  from  April  1 to  November  15,  each  course  com- 
prising 80  recitations;  (4)  in  order  to  register  in  the  Collegio  Pedro  II 
or  in  those  of  equal  rank,  maintained  by  the  States  or  by  private  indi- 
viduals, pupils  must  be  over  11  years  of  age  and  pass  a written  examina- 
tion showing  knowledge  of  the  Portuguese  language,  and  an  oral  test 
in  reading  and  its  interpretation,  elements  of  Brazilian  history,  practical 
arithmetic  and  geometry,  and  physical  geography;  (5)  in  order  to  register 
for  higher  education  they  must  (o)  present  a certificate  showing  that 
they  have  completed  satisfactorily  the  studies  comprising  the  academic 
course  of  the  Collegio  Pedro  II,  issued  by  this  school  itself  or  by  schools 
of  equal  rank  supported  by  the  States  and  supervised  by  the  National 
Council  of  Education;  (6)  must  be  16  years  old;  (c)  prove  moral  fitness; 
(d)  pass  the  entrance  examination,  and  (e)  pay  the  registration  fee. 

The  curriculum  of  the  Collegio  Pedro  II,  which  serves  as  the  standard 
• for  the  other  secondary  schools,  is  as  follows : 


Subjects. 

Periods  a 

week  by  years. 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

V. 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

History  (universal) 

3 

History  of  Brazil 

1 

3 

3 

3 

Physics  and  chemistry 

3 

3 

Natural  history 

3 

3 

Drawing 

3 

3 

3 

3 

Physical  training 

2 

2 

2 

2 

17 

20 

20 

17 

13 

The  student  may  elect  English  or  German,  or  he  may  study  both 
languages,  not  being  obliged  to  take  examinations  except  in  the  one  that 
he  may  choose.  Modern  languages  are  taught  in  a strictly  practical 
manner  in  order  to  enable  the  pupil  to  read  and  speak  them  with  facility. 
Latin  is  taught  in  such  a manner  as  to  enable  the  student  in  his  last 
year  to  translate  any  paragraph  taken  from  Cicero’s  Orations  or  from 
Virgil’s  works. 


I 


8 LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 

Those  wishing  to  enter  the  Schools  of  Pharmacy  or  Dentistry,  are 
granted  the  privilege  of  taking  only  Portuguese,  French,  geography, 
arithmetic,  physics,  chemistry  and  natural  history,  not  being  allowed  to 
be  examined  in  more  than  4 subjects  each  year;  they  are  considered 
as  special  students. 

Data  taken  from: 

Decreto  n.  11.530  de  18  de  Mar^o  de  1915  reorganisa  o ensino 
secundario  e o superior.  Ministerio  da  Justiga  e Negocios  Interio- 
res,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  1915. 

Regulamento  do  Gymnasio  Pernambucano,  Palacio  do  Governo 
do  Estado  de  Pernambuco,  Pernambuco,  1915. 

Programas  de  Ensino  do  Collegio  Pedro  II  para  o anno  de  1918, 
Typ.  Revista  dos  Tribunaes,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  1918. 

C onsolidagao  da  -Legislagao  federal  do  ensino  superior  e do  secun- 
dario por  Jose  Bernardino  Paranhos  da  Silva,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  1918. 

CHILE. 

To  be  admitted  to  secondary  studies  the  student  must  have  passed 
through  the  six  grades  of  the  primary  school;  there  was  formerly  con- 
nected with  the  national  secondary  schools  a preparatory  course  of  two 
years,  which  was  abolished  by  the  new  law  of  compulsory  education 
enacted  in  September,  1919. 

Secondary  education  was  originally  organized  by  the  law  of  January 
9,  1879;  the  course  of  study  then  prescribed  was  modified  by  decree  of 
January  2,  1912,  and  during  the  year  1915  some  minor  changes  were 
introduced,  which  have  been  incorporated  in  the  curriculum  given  below.  . 


Periods  a week  by  years. 


I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

V. 

VI. 

Spanish 

4 

4 

4 

4 

3 

3 

French 

4 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

4 

4 

4 

3 

3 

Mathematics 

4 

4 

4 

4 

3 

3 

Natural  sciences 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

History  and  geography 

3 

3 

3 

4 

3 

3 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

1 

1 

1 

5 

3 

3 

2 

2 

2 

ilanual  training 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

Gymnastics  and  singing 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

29 

30 

30 

33 

33 

33 

French  is  required  throughout  the  entire  six-year  course,  and  the  stu- 
dent should  also  take  up  a second  modern  language,  which  may  be  Eng- 
lish, German  or  Italian.  Drawing  is  optional  in  the  4th,  5th  and  6th 
years.  The  study  of  religion  is  not  absolutely  obligatory. 

To  receive  the  diploma  of  Bachiller  en  Filosofta  y Humanidades 
(Bachelor  of  Philosophy  and  Humanities)  the  student  must  complete 
successfully  all  the  studies  of  the  secondary  school  course  and  pass  the 
prescribed  examination. 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


9 


Secondary  education  is  free  and  is  given  in  the  Liceos  Fiscales  (National 
Secondary  Schools),  which  are  of  two  classes:  in  those  of  the  first  class 
the  six-year  course  is  offered,  while  in  those  of  the  second  class  instruc- 
tion is  limited  to  three  years.  By  decree  of  May  18,  1912,  the  above 
course  of  study  (for  boys’  schools)  was  adopted  for  the  girls’  secondary 
schools,  but  with  such  changes  as  are  required  by  the  teaching  of  do- 
mestic arts. 

In  1918  there  were  42  national  secondary  schools  for  boys  with  a 
registration  of  18,000  students,  and  44  for  girls  with  a registration  of 
11,900.  The  secondary  schools  subsidized  by  the  Government  had  an 
enrollment  of  10,920  pupils  and  those  not  subsidized  had  6,789. 

Data  taken  from: 

Recopilacibn  de  Leyes  y Reglamentos  relativos  a los  servicios 
de  Instruccion  Superior,  Secundaria  y Especial,  Ministerio  de 
Instruccion  Publica,  Santiago,  1912. 

Plan  de  Estudios  y Programas  de  Instruccion  Secundaria,  Minis- 
terio de  Instruccion  Publica,  Santiago,  1916. 

Memoria  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Santiago,  1919. 

El  Mercurio,  Santiago,  12  de  Setiembre  de  1919. 

COLOMBIA. 

Secondary  education  is  in  charge  of  the  National  Government  and  is 
supervised  by  the  Executive  Power.  The  departments  and  munici- 
palities, as  well  as  private  individuals,  can  maintain  establishments  of 
secondary  education,  but  both  public  and  private  secondary  schools 
must  apply  to  the  Ministry  of  Public  Instruction  for  the  right  to  issue 
the  diploma  of  bachiller  (bachelor).  This  right  is  granted  on  the  fol- 
lowing conditions:  (1)  that  the  petition  have  the  approval  of  the  proper 
ecclesiastical  authority  and  that  of  the  Director  General  of  Public  In- 
struction in  the  Departments  and  of  the  School  Inspector  or  Supervisor 
in  the  territories;  (2)  that  the  official  course  of  study  be  adopted;  (3)  that 
the  syllabus  and  regulations,  and  the  list  of  teachers  be  submitted  to  the 
Ministry  for  approval  and  revision;  (4)  that  no  person  be  appointed 
as  teacher  who  does  not  possess  certain  qualifications;  (5)  that  the  school 
be  regularly  established  and  suitably  located,  with  a laboratory  equipped 
for  the  demonstrative  teaching  of  physics  and  chemistry;  and  (7)  that 
it  offer  the  academic  course  in  Sciences  as  well  as  that  in  Philosophy  and 
Letter  s. 

To  enter  the  secondary  school  the  pupil  must  have  passed  the  six  years 
of  elementary  education  or  prove  by  means  of  an  examination  that  he 
possesses  an  equivalent  preparation. 

Secondary  education  is  divided  into  technical  and  classical.  It  was 
organized  by  decrees  491  of  1904,  229  of  1905,  and  1601  of  1916. 

The  technical  course  includes  the  following  subjects:  (I)  religion;  (II)  Spanish 
grammar,  translation  from  English  and  French;  (III)  universal  geography,  physical 
geography,  cosmography,  universal  history  and  Colombian  history;  (IV)  arithmetic, 
algebra,  plane  and  solid  geometry,  trigonometry  and  accounting;  (V)  general  physics 
and  chemistry;  (VI)  logic;  (VII)  drawing. 

The  classical  course  comprehends  the  following:  (I)  religion  (4  years);  (II)  Spanish 
language  (2  years),  rhetoric,  with  a survey  of  general  literature,  and  especially  that  of 
Spain  and  Latin  America  (1  year),  French  (2  years),  English  (2  years),  Latin  (2 


10 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


years);  (III)  geography  (1  year),  cosmography  (1  year),  ancient  history  (1  year), 
modern  history  (1  year),  Colombian  history  and  geography  (1  year);  (IV)  arithmetic 
(2  years),  elementary  algebra  (1  year),  plane  and  solid  geometry  (1  year),  commercial 
and  official  accounting  (1  year);  (V)  experimental  physics  and  chemistry  (1  year  each), 
natural  history  (1  year);  (VI)  philosophy  (2  years)  and  philosophy  of  the  Spanish 
language  (1  year). 

Not  more  than  four  subjects  can  be  taken  up  each  year;  or  five  at 
most  if  they  are  easy  studies.  The  subjects  required  for  the  diploma  de 
bachiller  (bachelor’s  diploma)  shall  be  given  for  one  hour  daily  with  the 
exception  of  those  that  are  given  in  secondary  schools  where  the  studies 
are  taught  by  the  progressive  method,  in  which  case  alternate  classes 
may  be  given. 

To  be  granted  the  diploma  of  bachiller  the  student  must  have  passed  all 
the  studies  of  secondary  education  and  submit  to  an  examination  in  five 
subjects,  chosen  by  lot. 

Students  who  follow  the  technical  course  will  receive  the  diploma  of 
Bachiller  en  Ciendas  (Bachelor  of  Science),  which  enables  them  to  enter 
schools  or  institutes  of  a technical  character.  Those  who  pursue  the 
classical  course  will  receive  the  diploma  of  Philosophy  and  Letters,  which 
enables  them  to  enter  the  Faculties  of  Philosophy  and  Letters,  Law  and 
Political  Sciences,  Medicine  and  Natural  Sciences,  and  Engineering 
and  Mathematics.  In  those  secondary  schools  that  give  only  the  diploma 
of  Bachiller  en  Ciendas,  but  where  pupils  have  also  taken  the  course  in 
philosophy,  the  diploma  entitles  them  to  enter  courses  in  the  Faculty  of 
Engineering  and  Mathematics;  and  if  at  the  same  time  they  have  taken 
the  courses  in  Latin  and  philosophy,  as  fully  as  required,  they  may  enter 
any  of  the  University  Faculties. 

La  Escuela  Nacional  de  Comercio  (The  National  School  of  Commerce) 
of  Bogota  is  the  only  secondary  school  in  which  the  subjects  are  arranged 
according  to  the  progressive  plan;  both  courses  (the  classical  and  the 
technical)  are  included  in  one  plan,  which  follows: 


Periods  a week  by  years. 


I. 

11. 

III. 

IV. 

V. 

VI. 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

3 

3 

3 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 

3 

3 

2 

1 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

Mathematics: 

6 

4 

4 

3 

3 

3 

3 

1 

2 

2 

2 

3 

Natural  sciences: 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

Physical  sciences: 

1 

1 

4 

4 

4 

1 

1 

3 

3 

3 

2 

2 

2 

History : 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


11 


In  1917  the  number  of  official  establishments  of  secondary  and  pro- 
fessional education  reached  106  with  12,116  pupils;  and  that  of  private 
establishments,  276  with  20,999  pupils. 

Information  taken  from: 

Codigo  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Bogota,  1911. 

Memorias  del  Ministerio  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Bogota,  1917 
and  1918. 

Prospecto  de  la  Escuela  Nacional  de  Comercio,  Bogota. 

COSTA  RICA. 

Decrees  of  November  28,  1914,^  divided  secondary  education  into  two 
cycles:  the  first,  three  years  in  length,  of  general  studies,  being  com- 
pulsory for  all  pupils;  the  second,  two  years  long,  offers  special  prepara- 
tion for  law,  engineering  and  medicine.  To  enter  the  first  year  of  the 
secondary  school  the  pupil  should  have  finished  the  five  years  of  primary 
education  and  be  12  years  old. 

In  the  first  cycle  of  common  studies  the  following  are  included : 


Subjects. 

Periods 

a week  by  years. 

I. 

II. 

III. 

Spanish 

4 

4 

4 

English 

4 

4 

4 

French 

3 

3 

Mathematics 

4 

4 

3 

Geography 

3 

3 

History 

4 

4 

Physics 

4 

Chemistry 

4 

Natural  sciences 

3 

3 

Agriculture 

3 

Hveiene 

1 

1 

Moral  and  civic  instruction 

2 

1 

2 

Penmanship . ...  . 

2 

2 

2 

2 

28 

30 

32 

Upon  the  completion  of  this  first  cycle,  the  studies  leading  to  the 
grado  de  bachiller  (Bachelor’s  degree),  consisting  of  two  years  more,  may 
be  taken  up.  These  studies  are  divided  into  three  groups,  each  designed 
to  prepare  the  student  especially  for  the  career  he  plans  to  follow.  The 
studies  common  to  all  the  groups  and  the  specialized  subjects  prepara- 
tory to  engineering,  medicine,  pharmacy  and  allied  professions,  and  law, 
are  given  in  the  following  tables: 

Common  Studies. 


Subjects. 

Periods  f 

Fourth 

year. 

)er  week. 

Fifth 

year. 

Spanish  literature , . 

4 

Foreign  literature  and  elocution 

4 

English 

3 

3 

3 

Logic  and  debate 

2 

Sociology 

2 

Public  administration . . 

2 

Sanitary  science 

2 

Agriculture 

3 

Music 

1 

TsTjewriting 

4 

Manual  training 

2 

18 

20 

^See  Bulletin.  1915.  No.  26.  United  States  Bureau  of  Education. 


12 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


Preparatory  to  Engineering. 


Subjects. 

Periods  per  week. 

Fourth 

year. 

Fifth 

year. 

Mathematics 

4 

4 

4 

Physics 

4 

Geology  and  mineralogy 

4 

2 

2 

14 

10 

Preparatory  to  Medical  Professions. 


2 

4 

4 

4 

4 

2 

2 

12 

10 

Preparatory  to  Law. 


2 

4 

4 

3 

3 

3 

3 

12 

10 

The  recitation  period  is  50  minutes  and  the  school  year  182  days. 
Secondary  education  is  supported  by  the  Government  and  imparted  in 
four  secondary  schools  and  in  the  normal  school. 

Data  taken  from: 

Reorganizacion  de  la  Escuela  Normal  y de  los  Colegios  de  Segunda 
Ensenanza,  Secretarfa  de  Instruccion  Publica,  San  Jose,  1914. 

CUBA. 

The  present  system  of  secondary  education  was  established  by  Mili- 
tary Order  No.  267,  June  30,  1900.  To  enter  a secondary  school  the 
pupil  must  be  13  years  of  age  and  prove  through  examinations  that  he 
has  done  the  work  of  the  eight  years  of  primary  school  and  is  able  to 
read  and  translate  either  English  or  French.  For  the  purpose  of  pre- 
paring the  students  who  are  to  enter  upon  secondary  education  a Prepar- 
atory Course  has  been  opened.  There  is  no  age  requirement  for  regis- 
tration in  this  course,  but  candidates  must  show  either  by  examination 
or  by  official  certificate  that  they  have  completed  the  sixth  grade  of 
elementary  primary  education. 

The  secondary  school  curriculum  covers  a period  of  not  less  than  four 
years.  The  subjects  form  eight  groups;  each  course  covers  a school 
year  of  eight  months,  and  the  class  period  is  one  hour. 

The  following  is  the  arrangement  of  subjects  by  courses: 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


13 


Preparatory  Course. 

Group  A. — Spanish  grammar  with  composition  and'derivation  exercises;  recitation 
of  Castilian  pieces,  in  prose  and  verse,  with  an  explanation  of  the  same;  elementary 
geography  and  history. 

Group  B. — Practical  arithmetic  to  ratio  and  proportions;  mechanical  drawing; 
elementary  hygiene;  rudiments  of  physiology,  zoology,  and  botany;  English  and 
French. 

Secondary  Education. 

Group  4.— Spanish  grammar  and  literature;  three  courses. 

Groups  B and  C. — English  and  French;  two  courses  each. 

Group  D. — Universal  geography  and  universal  history;  two  courses. 

Group  E. — Arithmetic,  algebra,  geometry  and  trigonometry;  three  courses. 

Group  F. — Physics  (two  courses);  chemistry  (one  course);  three  courses. 

Group  G. — Natural  history,  elements  of  cosmology, ^ introduction  to  biology,^ 
three  courses. 

Group  H. — Logic  and  elements  of  psychology;  civics^;  introduction  to  sociology,^ 
two  courses. 

Physical  training. 


Secondary  education  is  given  in  the  six  Institutos  de  Segunda  Emehanza 
Provinciales  (Provincial  Institutes  of  Secondary  Education)  and  by  the 
officially  recognized  private  schools.  The  former  have  an  enrollment  of 
2,200  students.  The  annual  matriculation  fee  is  $12.50.  Upon  com- 
pleting the  course  of  secondary  education  the  student  receives  the 
diploma  of  Bachiller  en  Ciencias  y Letras  (Bachelor  of  Science  and  Letters) , 
which  enables  him  to  continue  his  work  in  the  University. 

Each  Institute  is  authorized  to  make  its  own  arrangement  of  subjects 
by  years.  Below  is  given  the  course  of  study  of  the  Matanzas  Institute  : 


First  year — 

Spanish  grammar. 

L^niversal  geography. 

Arithmetic. 

Enghsh  or  French  (first  course). 
Second  year — 

Literature  (preceptive). 

Universal  history. 

Algebra. 

English  or  French  (second  course). 
Third  year — • 

Geometry  and  trigonometry. 
Literature  (historical). 

Logic  and  elements  of  psychology. 


Third  year — (con.) 

Physics  (first  course). 

Elements  of  cosmology  (from  Febru- 
ary to  May). 

Fourth  year — 

Physics  (second  course). 

Chemistry. 

Civics  (from  October  to  January). 
Natural  history. 

Introduction  to  biology  (from  Octo- 
ber to  January). 

Introduction  to  sociolog.y  (from 
February  to  May). 


Physical  training  is  obligatPry  for  every  student  in  the  Institute. 


Data  taken  from: 

Coleccion  Legislativa  de  la  Isla  de  Cuba,  Vol.  II,  1900,  Habana. 
Memoria  Anual,  Institute  de  Segunda  Ensenanza  de  la  Habana, 
Ano  academico  de  1909-1910. 

Memoria  Anual,  Institute  de  Segunda  Ensenanza  de  Matanzas, 
Ano  academico  de  1914-1915. 

Memoria  Anual,  Institute  de  Segunda  Ensenanza  de  Santiago 
de  Cuba,  Ano  academico  de  1918-1919. 

iThese  subjects  are  studied  during  one  term  only;  they  are  optional,  except  civics,  and  each  diploma 
shall  state  whether  or  not  the  student  has  taken  them. 


14 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


DOMINICAN  REPUBLIC. 


Executive  Order  No.  145  issued  April  5, 1918,  reorganizes  public  instruc- 
tion in  the  Republic,  including  secondary  education.  Subsequently 
the  Department  of  Public  Instruction  issued  Orders  53,  54,  55  and  56, 
on  May  20  and  June  4,  1918,  complementing  the  former  general  order. 

For  admission  to  the  secondary  school  the  student  must  have  passed 
through  the  six  years  of  primary  school  and  have  the  Official  Certificate 
corresponding  to  the  higher  elementary  school. 

The  secondary  course  comprehends  the  following  four  divisions : 

1.  — Section  of  general  secondary  studies. 

2.  — Section  of  Philosophy  and  Letters. 

3.  — Section  of  Physical  and  Natural  Sciences. 

4.  — Section  of  Physical  and  Mathematical  Sciences. 


I. — The  Section  of  general  secondary  studies  covers  a period  of  three 
years  with  the  following  distribution  of  subjects: 


First  year — 

Arithmetic. 

Algebra. 

Physics. 

Chemistry. 

Anatomy,  physiology  and  hygiene. 
Spanish  grammar  (analogy). 
History  of  Santo  Domingo. 
Geography  of  Santo  Domingo. 
Drawing. 

English. 

French. 

Second  year — 

Geometry. 

Trigonometry. 

Cosmography. 

Physics  and  chemistry. 

Botany,  zoology. 

Geography  of  America. 


Second  year — (con.) 

Ancient  and  medieval  history. 
Enghsh. 

French. 

Spanish  grammar  (syntax). 

Third  year — 

Economics. 

Constitutional  law. 

Geography  of  Europe,  Asia,  Africa 
and  Oceania. 

Modern,  contemporaneous  and 
American  history. 

Geology  and  physical  geography. 
Hygiene. 

Rhetoric. 

Logic. 

Drawing. 

Enghsh  and  French. 


When  the  student  has  completed  the  above  work  he  must  pass  an 
examination  and  give  evidence  of  being  13  years  old.  This  examination 
entitles  him  to  the  Official  Certificate  corresponding  to  the  general 
studies  of  secondary  education,  which  is  prerequisite  for  admission  to 
any  other  division. 


II. — The  studies  of  the  special  sections  are  given  in  one  year  each,  and 
include  the  following  subjects: 


Section  of  Philosophy  and  Letters — 
Latin. 

English. 

P'rench. 

Philosophy. 

History  of  philosophy. 

Social  ethics. 

History  of  civilization. 

Literature. 

History  of  literature. 

Section  of  Physical  Sciences  and  Mathe- 
matics— 

Arithmetic. 

Algebra. 

Geometry. 


Section  of  Physical  Sciences  and  Mathe- 
matics— (con.) 

Trigonometry. 

Astronomy. 

Physics  and  chemistry. 

Mechanical  drawing. 

English  and  French. 

Section  of  Physical  and  Natural  Sciences — 
Physics. 

Inorganic  and  organic  chemistry. 
Botany  and  zoology. 

Biology. 

Geology. 

Astronomy. 

Enghsh  and  French. 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


15 


After  an  examination  the  student  receives  the  Official  Certificate  cor- 
responding to  the  respective  section  and  on  presenting  it  to.  the  National 
Council  of  Education  he  receives  the  diploma  of  bachiller  (Bachelor)  of 
Physical  and  Mathematical  Sciences,  Philosophy  and  Letters  or  Physical 
and  Natural  Sciences,  as  the  case  may  be.  These  general  and  special 
studies  of  secondary  education  together  comprise  the  required  prepara- 
tion for  matriculation  in  the  University. 

Secondary  instruction  is  provided  by  the  Government  and  is  imparted 
in  the  Normal  Schools  of  Santo  Domingo  and  Santiago.  The  school 
year  is  36  weeks  long. 


A new  curriculum  is  now  under  consideration,  for  the  purpose  of 
reducing  the  present  number  of  subjects. 

Data  taken  from: 

Coleccion  de  Ordenes  Ejecutivas  y Reglamentos  Administrativos. 
Edicion  Oficial,  1919.  Santo  Domingo. 

Coleccion  de  Ordenes  de  la  Secretaria  de  Estado,  Justicia  e 
Instruccion  Publica.  Edicion  Oficial,  1919.  Santo  Domingo. 

Revista  de  Educacion,  Consejo  Nacional  de  Educacion,  Junio 
1919.  Santo  Domingo. 


ECUADOR. 

A new  set  of  General  Regulations  for  Secondary  Education  was  issued 
by  the  National  Council  of  Public  Instruction,  October  26,  1917,  pro- 
viding as  follows: 

1.  In  order  to  enter  the  secondary  schools  the  pupil  must  be  at  least 
12  years  old,  must  have  finished  the  six  years  of  the  elementary  school 
and  pass  the  entrance  examination. 

2.  Each  secondary  school  shall  have  a lower  and  an  upper  section,  of 
three  years  each,  and  the  following  subjects  shall  be  taught : (a)  scientific 
studies:  moral  and  civic  instruction,  Spanish,  modern  languages,  history, 
geography,  physical  sciences,  natural  sciences,  mathematics,  philosophy; 
{h)  technical  studies:  drawing,  gymnastics,  music.  Courses  in  commer- 
cial subjects,  surveying,  agriculture,  telegraphy,  education,  etc.,  may  be 
given  in  some  of  the  secondary  schools. 

3.  That  6 recitation  periods  per  day,  of  45  minutes  each,  shall  be  the 
maximum,  30  the  maximum  weekly  program  and  36  weeks  the  length 
of  the  school  year. 

4.  That  a certificate  of  lower  studies  be  granted  to  the  students  who 
pass  all  the  subjects  of  the  lower  section,  and  the  diploma  of  bachiller 
(Bachelor)  be  conferred  upon  those  who  complete  the  six  years’  course 
and  pass  a special  examination. 

The  plan  given  below  was  in  force  from  1914  to  1918,  and  throws  some 
light  on  the  probable  new  course  of  study. 


16  LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 

Lower  Section. 

First  year. — Moral  and  civic  instruction;  Spanish  grammar;  arithmetic;  physical 
grography  of  the  five  parts  of  the  world,  and  especially  of  America;  History  of  Ecua- 
dor; French  or  English;  mechanical  drawing. 

Second  year. — Moral  and  civic  instruction;  Spanish  grammar,  with  study  of  Greek 
and  Latin  roots;  arithmetic;  political  geography  of  the  five  parts  of  the  world,  and 
especially  of  America;  ancient  history;  French  or  English;  personal  hygiene. 

Third  year. — Literature  (rhetoric  and  poetry);  commercial  accounting;  astronomic 
g eography;  history  of  the  middle  ages:  French  or  English;  public  hygiene. 

Upper  Section. 

First  year. — Logic  and  transcendental  philosophy;  algebra;  botany;  modern  history; 
French  or  English. 

Second  year. — Cosmology  and  psychology;  plane  geometry  and  trigonometry; 
biology-zoology;  physics;  chemistry;  history  of  literature,  and  especially  Spanish  and 
American  literature;  French  or  English. 

Third  year. — Ethics;  elementary  law  and  study  of  the  Constitution;  history  of  phil- 
osophy; solid  geometry;  mineralogy  and  geology;  physics  and  chemistry  (elementary 
organic  chemistrj-  and  qualitative  analysis) ;‘ French  or  English. 

Gymnastics  and  military  drill  were  included  throughout  the  whole  six 
years’  course. 

Secondary  education  is  given  in  the  Colegios  Nacionales  (National 
Secondary  Schools),  which  are  maintained  by  Government  funds, 
although  the  student  must  pay  a small  annual  registration  fee,  and  in 
such  private  secondary  schools  as  are  established  in  accordance  with  the 
General  Eegulations  and  are  under  the  supervision  of  the  Council  or 
the  Ministry  of  Public  Instruction.  In  1918  there  were  14  secondary 
schools  with  an  enrollment  of  1,540  pupils. 

Data  taken  from: 

Reglamento  de  Segunda  Ensenanza,  Quito,  1914. 

Reglamento  General  de  Segunda  Ensenanza,  Quito,  1917. 

Informe  del  Ministro  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Bellas  Artes,  etc., 
Quito,  1918. 

GUATEMALA. 

Primary  education  comprises  6 years  and  constitutes  the  preparation 
required  for  admission  to  the  secondary  school  courses  offered  in  the 
Institutos  Nacionales  (National  Institutes).  Secondary  education  covers 
a period  of  five  years,  wdth  the  following  curriculum: 

First  year. — Spanish  grammar,  English,  arithmetic,  cosmography  and  physica 
geography,  geography  and  history  of  Central  America,  mechanical  drawing. 

Second  year. — Spanish  grammar,  English,  algebra,  zoology,  descriptive  geography, 
physiology  and  hygiene. 

Third  year. — English,  geometry  and  trigonometry,  botany  and  mineralogy,  ancient 
and  medieval  history,  P’rench,  military  science  and  tactics. ^ 

Fourth  year. — English,  French,  philosophy,  physics  and  mechanics,  modern  history, 
book-keeping,  stenography. 

Fifth  year. — English,  French,  philosophy,  chemistry,  general  grammar  and  rhet- 
oric, civics  and  political  economy. 


^For  boys  only. 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


17 


All  recitations  are  held  daily,  each  lasting  50  minutes;  six  hours  are 
the  maximum  daily  program  for  each  pupil;  the  school  year  is  36  weeks. 
On  completing  the  secondary  school  course  and  after  taking  a special 
examination  the  student  receives  the  diploma  of  Bachiller  en  Ciencias 
y Letras  (Bachelor  of  Science  and  Letters),  which  enables  him  to  enter 
the  University. 

There  are  7 National  Institutes  with  an  enrollment  of  about  2,200 
pupils.  There  are  normal  and  commercial  sections  connected  with  the 
Institutes.  Secondary  education  is  free.  (Decree  of  February  25, 
1915.) 

Data  taken  from : 

Kevista  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Numbers  9 and  10,  Secretarfa  del 
Ramo,  Guatemala,  July  and  August,  1914. 

Programas  detallados  para  los  Institutes  de  Segunda  Ensenanza 
y Escuelas  Normales,  Secretarfa  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Guate- 
mala, 1915. 

Centro  America,  Guatemala.  Organo  de  la  Oficina  Internacional 
Centro  Americana.  April,  May  and  July,  1917. 

HAITI. 

Public  education,  primary  and  secondary,  is  free.  The  latter  is  im- 
parted in  12  national  secondary  boys’  schools,  with  an  enrollment  of 
1,162  pupils,  and  in  5 national  secondary  girls’  schools,  with  an  enroll- 
ment of  324  pupils. 

To  be  admitted  to  the  secondary  school,  the  student,  besides  having 
his  certificate  of  the  primary  elementary  school  showing  that  he  has 
completed  the  first  four  grades,  must  pass  an  entrance  examination  and 
be  13  years  of  age.  For  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  entrance  of  pupils 
into  the  Lycees  (secondary  schools),  the  principals  are  authorized  to 
organize  preparatory  courses. 

According  to  the  Executive  Order  of  September  20,  1918,  the  work 
in  the  Lycees  and  Colleges  (secondary  schools)  is  divided  into  two  cycles. 
The  first  cycle  comprises  three  years  and  the  second  two  years.  For 
reasons  of  economy  only  the  secondary  schools  located  in  the  capital, 
Port-au-Prince,  offer  the  two  cycles. 

The  first  cycle  includes  the  following  subjects:  religious  instruction; 
moral  and  civic  instruction;  French  language  and  literature;  a modern 
language  (English  or  Spanish) ; history  of  Haiti  and  principal  divisions 
of  general  history;  geography  of  Haiti  and  general  geography;  applied 
arithmetic;  elementary  algebra,  elementary  geometry,  elementary 
trigonometry;  elementary  accounting  and  book-keeping;  elementary 
cosmography;  elementary  physical  and  natural  sciences;  elementary; 
agriculture;  drawing;  penmanship;  elementary  hygiene;  physical 
training. 

All  the  above  mentioned  subjects  are  required  for  all  pupils,  who  on 
completing  them  take  an  examination  in  order  to  obtain  the  first 
certificate  of  secondary  school  work,  necessary  for  admission  to  the 
second  cycle  or  to  the  Scale  Industrielle  (Industrial  School). 


18 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


The  second  cycle,  designed  as  preparatory  to  professional  studies,  has 
two  sections  or  courses:  (a)  Pure  Letters;  and  (6)  Letters  and  Science. 
The  following  subjects  are  common  to  both  courses:  French  language 
and  literature;  a modern  language  (English  or  Spanish);  history  and 
geography;  natural  sciences;  philosophy;  hygiene  and  physical  training. 

The  students  of  the  Pure  Letters  course  must  take  the  following 
subjects:  Latin  language  and  literature;  Greek  language  and  literature; 
mathematics;  natural  and  physical  sciences.  Those  of  the  Letters  and 
Science  course  take  the  following:  theoretical  arithmetic;  elementary 
and  advanced  algebra;  elementary  and  advanced  geometry;  trigonometry; 
descriptive  geometry;  cosmography;  mechanics;  physics;  chemistry; 
natural  sciences;  drawing. 

Upon  finishing  the  work  of  the  second  cycle  the  student  must  take 
an  examination  in  order  to  receive  the  second  certificate  of  secondary 
school  work,  which  is  the  Baccalaureat  es  lettres  or  Baccalaureat  es  Sciences 
et  es  lettres,  required  for  pursuing  studies  in  the  University. 

The  school  year  is  36  weeks  of  five  days  each;  the  recitation  period 
lasts  1 hour  and  20  minutes. 

Data  taken  from : 

Le  Moniteur  (official  gazette),  Port-au-Prince,  September  28, 
1918;  September  25,  1918;  March  8,  1919;  March  12,  1919;  August 
30,  1919. 

Annuaire  de  Legislation  Haitienne,  1917. 


HONDURAS. 


As  a result  of  Legislative  Decree  No.  24,  April  2,  1914,  which  changed 
some  of  the  articles  of  the  Law  of  Public  Instruction,  a new  set  of  regula- 
tions for  secondary  education  was  issued  January,  1915.  These  regu- 
lations prescribe  that  in  order  to  be  admitted  to  a secondary  school  one 
must  have  completed  the  five  grades  of  the  elementary  school,  be  12 
years  of  age  and  pay  an  annual  registration  fee  of  10  'pesos  (1  peso  = 80.40 
gold).  The  following  uniform  course  of  study  is  established: 


Subjects. 


I. 


Intellectual  and  Moral  Education; 

1 . Spanish 

2.  French 

3.  English 

4.  Mathematics 

5.  Accounting 

6.  Natural  sciences 

7.  Physics 

8.  Chemistry 

9.  Physiologj'  and  hygiene.  . .. 

10.  Geography  and  historj' 

11.  Psychology,  logic  and  ethics 

12.  Cosmography 

13.  Moral  and  civic  instruction  . 
Artistic  and  Physical  Education: 

14.  Penmanship 

15.  Manual  training 

16.  Physical  training 


6 

3 

3 

6 


3 


2 

5 


1 

2 

2 

1 


34 


Periods  a week  by  years. 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


19 


50  minutes  is  the  length  of  the  recitation  period  and  36  weeks  that  of 
the  school  year.  On  finishing  the  work  above  specified  and  after  taking 
the  required  examinations  the  student  is  granted  the  diploma  of  Bachiller 
en  Ciencias  y Letras  (Bachelor  of  Science  and  Letters),  which  entitles 
him  to  continue  his  professional  studies. 

There  are  5 national  secondary  schools  and  one  that  is  subsidized  by 
the  Government.  The  enrollment  in  1918  was  250  students.  There 
are  Normal  and  Commercial  sections  connected  with  the  secondary 
schools. 

Data  taken  from: 

Eeglamento  de  Segunda  Ensenanza,  Tipograffa  Nacional,  Tegu- 
cigalpa, 1916. 

Memoria  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Tegucigalpa,  1917-1918. 

MEXICO. 


The  following  course  of  study  was  put  into  effect  the  1st  of  May, 
1917,  in  the  Escuelas  Preparatorias  or  secondary  schools  of  the  Federal 
District : 


Subjects. 

Periods  a week  by  years. 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

5 

5 

3 

3 

2 

Elementary  natural  history  (botany,  zoology,  physiology,  anatomy  and 

5 

3 

5 

3 

3 

2 

. . 3 

2 

2 

2 

2 

5 

21 

21 

22 

20 

Physical  and  mihtary  training  is  given  5 hours  a week  throughout  the 
course. 

Secondary  education  is  preceded  by  6 years  in  the  primary  school. 
Pupils  who  finish  the  four-year  secondary  school  course  have  the  right 
to  matriculate  in  the  schools  of  Medicine,  Engineering,  Law  and  Den- 
tistry. The  school  year  is  about  182  days. 

In  January,  1920,  the  National  Council  of  Education  approved  the 
following  curriculum  to  go  into  effect  in  March,  the  beginning  of  the 
school  year: 


20 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


First  year. — National  lans;uage,  oral  and  written  composition;  modern  languages 
(English,  French  or  German), ^ arithmetic;  elements  of  biological  sciences;  civics  and 
vocational  guidance;  elements  of  physiography  and  general  geography;  drawing  and 
manual  training  (for  boys),  domestic  sciences  for  girls;  physical  training;  military 
drill. 

Second  year. — Required  subjects  (23  periods) : Spanish  grammar,  oral  and  written 
composition;  modern  language;  algebra  and  plane  geometry;  geography  of  Mexico 
and  geography  of  America;  drawing;  music  (chorus  singing);  physical  training; 
military  drill. 

Elective  subjects  (5  periods) ; Biology  II  (botany  and  zoology,  3 recitation  periods 
and  2 periods  of  laboratory  work);  commercial  arithmetic;  manual  training;  book 
keeping. 

Third  year. — Required  subjects  (22  periods) : Spanish  grammar,  oral  and  written 
composition;  solid  geometry;  anatomy,  physiology  and  hygiene;  general  history; 
physics  (3  recitation  periods  and  2 of  laboratory  work);  music  (chorus  singing); 
physical  training. 

Elective  subjects  (6  periods) : 

For  professions:  Latin  and  Greek  roots;  trigonometry;  English  or  French; 
economics. 

For  other  callings:  Commercial  English;  commercial  geography,  commercial 
practice  and  commercial  correspondence;  practical  and  ornamental  drawing. 

Fourth  year. — Required  subjects  (17  periods):  Spanish  literature;  national  history; 
elementary  law;  chemistry  (3  recitation  periods  and  2 laboratory  periods);  music 
(chorus  singing);  physical  training;  military  drill. 

Elective  subjects  (9  periods). 

For  professions:  Latin  I;  mineralogy  and  geology;  cosmography;  French  or 
English;  p.sychology;  modern  history  and  European  history;  algebra;  descrip- 
tive geometry. 

For  other  callings:  Commercial  law;  shorthand  and  typewriting;  banking  and 
finance;  applied  drawing  (posters  and  advertisements). 

Fifth  year. — Subjects  required  for  students  who  are  to  continue  their  work  in 
the  National  LTniversity  (10  periods):  General  literature;  logic;  elementary  ethics; 
physical  training. 

Elective  subjects  (12  periods): 

Law:  Sociology;  history  of  America;  ancient  history;  Spanish  literature  II; 
Latin  II;  general  geography  11. 

Engineering:  Analytical  geometry  and  calculus;  advanced  physics;  astronomy; 
drawing;  general  chemistry;  Spanish  literature  II. 

Medicine:  Advanced  chemistry;  botany;  zoology  and  advanced  natural  his- 
tory; Latin  II;  anatomy  and  physiology,  advanced  course;  Spanish  literature  II. 

Yucatan. — Secondary  education  was  reorganized  in  April,  1917.  It 
consists  of  a five-year  curriculum,  comprising  3 years  of  general  studies 
and  2 years  of  specialized  studies  preparatory  to  the  professions  of  medi- 
cine and  pharmacy,  law  and  engineering. 

Data  taken  from: 

DiarioOficial,  Ciudad  de  Mexico,  Number  91,  April  19,  1917. 

El  Universal,  Ciudad  de  Mexico,  January  6,  1920. 

Instituto  Literario  de  Yucatan  (Escuela  Preparatoria  del  Estado), 
1917.  Decree  No.  682,  April  24,  1917. 

iThe  student  may  select  any  of  these  three  modern  languages  in  the  first  and  second  j'ears,  and  in 
the  third  and  fourth  years  he  has  the  opportunity  of  taking  a second  language. 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


21 


NICARAGUA. 

Primary  education  comprises  six  years  and  secondary  education  five. 
These  two  branches  are  prerequisite  for  obtaining  the  diploma  of 
Bachiller  en  Ciencias  y Letras  (Bachelor  of  Science  and  Letters)  and  for 
admission  to  the  University.  The  Institutos  Nacionales  (National 
Secondary  Institutes)  are  under  private  administration,  but  the  Govern- 
ment exercises  direct  supervision  over  the  appointment  of  teachers, 
curriculum,  examinations,  etc.,  although  only  in  the  Instituto  Nacional 
Central  at  Managua  is  the  teaching  force  directly  appointed  by  the  De- 
partment of  Public  Instruction.  The  Government,  besides  furnishing 
the  buildings,  furniture  and  scientific  equipment,  grants  a monthly 
subsidy  for  the  maintenance  of  each  institute.  There  are  8 national 
secondary  schools,  including  the  Normal  School  for  Girls,  which  grant 
the  diploma  of  Bachelor  of  Science  and  Letters.  The  pupils  pay  an 
annual  registration  fee  varying  between  $30  and  $50. 

By  decree  of  May  1,  1916,  the  course  of  study  adopted  October  2, 
1911,  was  annulled  and  the  following  was  prescribed: 


Subjects. 

Periods  a week  by  years. 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

V. 

6 

6 

Literature:  rhetoric  and  poetry,  history  of  Spanish  literature  and 

6 

3 

3 

French 

3 

3 

English 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

6 

3 

6 

3 

6 

6 

3 

Organic 

6 

3 

6 

3 

3 

Ethics  and  theodicy;  history  of  philosophy 

3 

Freehand  and  mechanical  drawing 

3 

3 

24 

21 

24 

21 

27 

In  teaching  science  theoretical  instruction  shall  be  illustrated  by 
practical  demonstration  whenever  possible. 

The  recitation  period  is  one  hour  in  length;  the  school  week  six  days 
and  the  school  year  182  days. 

Data  taken  from : 

Memoria  del  Ministerio  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Managua,  1914. 
Plan  de  Estudios  para  el  Bachillerato  en  Ciencias  y Letras. 
Ministerio  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Managua,  1916. 

The  Bulletin  of  the  Pan  American  Union,  October,  1918. 


22 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


PANAMA. 

Secondary  education  is  given  in  the  L/iceo  (secondary  school)  which  is 
one  of  the  important  divisions  of  the  Instituto  Nacional  de  Panama 
(National  Institute  of  Panama).  The  Liceo  course  of  five  years  is 
divided  into  cycles,  of  3 and  2 years  respectively.  At  the  end  of  the 
first  three  years,  a certificate  covering  the  first  cycle  is  given,  and  on 
terminating  the  second  cycle  and  passing  the  required  examinations,  the 
diploma  of  Bachiller  en  Humanidades  (Bachelor  of  Humanities)  is  granted. 

To  enter  the  first  year  of  the  Liceo  it  is  necessary  to  have  passed  the 
six  grades  of  the  elementary  school  and  be  at  least  13  years  of  age. 

The  following  course  of  study  was  authorized  by  decree  No.  86,  June 
15, 1918: 


Subjects. 

Periods  a week  by  years. 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

V. 

Spanish 

6 

6 

6 

5 

6 

6 

6 

5 

3 

3 

3 

3 

4 

3 

3 

4 

4 

2 

History 

2 

2 

2 

4 

English 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

6 

3 

3 

2 

Civics 

2 

2 

2 

3 

4 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

28 

30 

34 

35 

32 

The  school  year  is  36  weeks.  Instruction  in  the  Liceo  is  free. 

Data  taken  from : 

Memoria  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Panama,  1918. 

Reglamento  y Programas  del  Instituto  Nacional,  Panama,  1916. 

PARAGUAY. 

A primary  school  preparation,  covering  six  years,  is  the  requirement 
for  admission  to  secondary  education.  The  latter  is  provided  in  the 
Colegios  Nacionales  (National  Secondary  Schools).  These  are  sup- 
ported by  the  Government,  although  the  students  pay  for  annual 
registration,  for  examinations  given  under  certain  conditions  to  privately 
prepared  students,  and  for  diplomas.  During  1918  a total  of  756  stu- 
dents registered  in  the  secondary  schools.  There  are  private 

secondary  schools,  which  follow  the  curriculum  and  methods  of  the  Gov- 
ernment schools  and  are  under  its  supervision. 

I. — The  course  of  study  given  below  was  adopted  March  25,  1904, 
and  was  in  force  up  to  and  including  the  school  year  of  1919. 


LATIN- AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


23 


Subjects. 


Periods  a week  by  years. 


II. 


III. 


IV. 


V. 


VI. 


Spanish 

French 

German  or  Latin 

Mathematics: 

Arithmetic 

Algebra 

Geometry 

Solid  geometry 

Trigonometry,  topography  and  cosmography . 
History: 

American  and  Paraguayan 

Oriental  and  Greek 

Roman 

Medieval  and  modern 

Contemporaneous 

Geography 

Natural  sciences: 

Botany  and  geology 

Zoology 

Anatomy,  physiology  and  hygiene 

Physics 

Chemistry » 

Philosophy : 

Psychology  and  logic 

Ethics  and  general  philosophy 

_ Practical  ethics 

Civics  and  political  economy  ., 

Elementary  law 

Accounting 

Drawing  and  penmanship 

Drawing 


22 


23 


24 


25 


26 


25 


Physical  training  is  prescribed  each  year,  with  the  addition  of  fencing 
the  last  year. 

All  the  subjects  mentioned  above,  including  drawing  and  physical 
training,  are  required  for  the  diploma  of  bachiller  (Bachelor),  except 
Latin,  which  is  obligatory  for  those  students  who  are  to  enter  the  Law 
School,  and  German  for  those  who  are  to  enter  the  Medical  School. 

Students  may  enter  the  Pharmaceutical,  Dental,  Notarial  and  Sur- 
veying Schools  on  the  certificate  of  secondary  studies  granted  at  the  end 
of  the  4th  year  provided  they  have  substituted  for  the  usual  required 
courses  in  German,  Latin,  Roman  history,  botany  and  geology  the  fol- 
lowing courses:  Roman,  medieval  and  contemporaneous  history  (5 
periods) , natural  history  (3) , physics  and  chemistry  (5  periods) . In  the 
same  way  the  certificate  of  Commercial  Assistant  is  given  to  students 
who  do  additional  work  in  commercial  arithmetic  and  English  (3  periods) 
in  the  third  year,  and  substitute  for  the  usual  work  in  the  fourth  year, 
accounting  (3  periods),  English  (6),  commercial  law  (2),  and  office 
practice  (3).  These  subjects  are  treated  in  an  elementary  way. 

IL — By  decree  No.  10560,  September  22,  1919,  the  above  course  of 
study  was  changed  as  follows:  The  secondary  school  course  is  divided 
into  two  cycles;  the  first  cycle  is  of  four  years,  elementary  and  general  in 
character,  the  second  cycle  is  of  two  years,  preparatory  and  specialized. 

The  following  table  shows  the  subjects  comprehended  in  the  first  cycle, 
and  their  arrangement  by  years : 


24 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS, 


Subjects. 

Periods  a week  by  years. 

I. 

H. 

HI. 

IV. 

Spanish:  Grammar 

5 

5 

Literature  (preceptive  and  exercises) 

3 

General  literature  and  exercises 

3 

Reading  and  elocution 

2 

Reading  and  composition 

2 

History : 

National  and  American 

3 

3 

Ancient  and  medieval 

4 

Modern  and  contemporaneous 

4 

Practical  ethics  (reading  and  discussions) 

2 

Civics 

2 

French  

5 

5 

3 

Economics  and  elementary  law 

3 

Philosophv  (psvchologv  and  logic) 

4 

4 

4 

4 

3 

Trigonometry  and  topography 

3 

3 

2 

2 

Natural  Sciences: 

2 

3 

2 

3 

Physics 

2 

3 

2 

3 

2 

2 

• 

Drawing 

2 

2 

3 

2 

2 

2 

2 

32 

32 

32 

30 

Shorthand  is  optional  every  year. 

Those  who  pass  the  studies  of  the  first  cycle  will  receive  a diploma  of 
secondary  studies,  which  enables  them : 

(a)  To  enter  upon  the  second  cycle,  if  they  have  taken  previously  a 
complementary  course  in  Latin,  English  or  German  (5  periods  each) 
chosen  according  to  the  work  they  are  to  pursue  in  this  cycle. 

(b)  To  obtain  the  certificate  of  normal  teacher,  if  they  take  a course 
in  pedagogy  (6  periods)  with  a year  of  satisfactory  class  room  practice  in 
the  normal  schools. 

(c)  To  secure  the  certificate  of  bookkeeper,  public  accountant,  public 
translator,  or  public  attorney,  if  they  take  the  corresponding  courses. 

(d)  To  enter  the  lesser  schools  such  as  the  Notarial,  Pharmaceutical, 
Obstetrical,  Dental,  Agricultural  and  Veterinary  Schools. 

The  second  cycle  comprises  the  following  groups : 

(A)  Humanities,  preparatory  for  the  school  of  Law  and  Social  Sciences,  or  that  of 
Philosophy  and  Letters. 

(B)  Natural  sciences,  preparatory  for  the  Medical  School  or  the  doctorate  in 
Natural  Sciences. 

(C)  Mathematics,  preparatory  for  the  Engineering  School  or  the  doctorate  in 
Exact  Sciences. 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


25 


Group  A — Humanities. 


Subjects. 


First  Second 
year.  year. 


Spanish  and  Latin  American  literature 

Elocution  and  composition 

Composition  and  literary  criticism .... 

Elements  of  anthropolo^ 

Ancient  and  medieval  history.  . 

Modern  and  contemporaneous  history  . 

National  history 

History  of  foreign  literature 

Elements  of  sociology 

Philosophy 

Latin 

English 

Greek  roots 

Physical  training 


3 

1 


3 

4 


3 


4 

5 


2 


30 


3 


1 


4 


4 

3 

4 
3 
3 
3 
2 


30 


Group  B — Natural  Sciences. 


Physics 

Chemistry 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

2 

5 

4 

4 

Botanv 

Zoology' 

Anatomy,  physiology  and  hygiene 

German 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

2 

2 

2 

2 

30 

30 

Group  C — Mathematics. 


4 

3 

3 

2 

3 

3 

4 

3 

4 

3 

4 

3 

5 

3 

2 

Topographical  drawing  and  map-making 

3 

2 

2 

30 

30 

The  class  period  is  45  minutes  and  the  school  year  36  weeks. 

The  students  who  finish  successfully  the  work  of  the  second  cycle, 
group  A,  receive  the  diploma  of  Bachiller  en  Letras  or  Humanidades 
(Bachelor  of  Letters  or  Humanities),  and  if  they  take  groups  B or  C 
they  receive  the  diploma  of  Bachiller  en  Ciencias  Naturales  (Bachelor  of 
Natural  Sciences),  or  Matemdticas  (Mathematics),  as  the  case  may  be. 
The  Bachelor  in  Mathematics  by  taking  a course  in  surveying  may  re- 
ceive the  diploma  of  public  surveyor. 

The  first  cycle  is  tU  be  established  in  the  school  year  of  1920,  and  the 
second  cycle  in  1921. 

To  obtain  the  diplomas  mentioned  in  the  plan  the  student  must  pass 
all  the  subjects,  including  physical  training,  and  have  a mark  not  lower 
than  good;  otherwise  he  receives  only  a certificate  of  his  work  without  the 
legal  rights  conferred  by  the  diplomas. 


26 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


Data  taken  from : 

Ensenanza  secundaria. — Plan  de  Estudios  (pamphlet),  Asuncion. 
1904. 

Diario  Oficial,  No.  489,  Asuncion,  September  22  and  24,  1919. 

El  Institute  Paraguayo  y su  representacion  en  el  Congreso  Pan- 
americano  de  Washington,  Asuncidn,  1917. 

PERU. 

Secondary  education  is  known  officially  as  Instruccion  Media  (Inter- 
mediate Instruction)  and  is  given  in  28  Colegios  Nacionales  (National 
Secondary  Schools) , 25  for  boys  and  3 for  girls,  and  in  private  secondary 
schools  that  comply  with  official  regulations. 

To  be  admitted  to  the  secondary  schools  the  pupil  must  prove  by 
certificates  that  he  has  completed  the  five  grades  of  the  primary  schoo 
and  that  he  is  at  least  12  years  old. 

The  present  course  of  study  was  adopted  January  29,  1910,  and  the 
only  change  since  made  is  the  addition  of  a course  in  the  history  of  Peru 
in  the  first  and  second  years. 


Periods  a week  by  years. 


Subjects. 

I. 

12-13 

years. 

II. 

13-14 

years. 

III. 

14^15 

years. 

IV. 

15-16 

years. 

4 

4 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

2 

3 

3 

2 

2 

(*) 

2 

1 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

Mathematics: 

5 

1 

2 

2 

2 

2 

i 

Natural  Sciences: 

3 

3 

2 

1 

3 

3 

3 

2 

5 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

Drawing 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

3 

3 

3 

2 

28 

29 

29 

28 

*During  the  second  semester  an  hour  a week  is  devoted  to  teaching  history  of  Peru. 


The  length  of  the  recitation  period  is  one  hour,  and  of  the  school  year, 
36  weeks. 

At  the  completion  of  the  general  secondary  school  course  students 
enter  the  Faculty  of  Philosophy  and  Letters,  where  at  the  end  of  two 
years  they  receive  the  Bachelor’s  degree  and  at  the  end  of  three  years 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


27 


work  the  Doctor’s  degree.  The  two  years’  course  in  the  Faculty  of 
Philosophy  and  Letters  is  required  for  admission  to  the  Schools  of  Law, 
Medicine  and  Political  Science.  It  includes  the  following  studies: 
Ancient  literature;  Spanish  literature;  history  of  modern  civilization; 
critical  history  of  Peru;  sociology;  metaphysics  (two  courses);  general 
philosophy;  education;  ethics. 

Secondary  education  is  supported  by  government  and  departmental 
subsidies,  which  in  1918  amounted  to  28,433  and  5,771  Peruvian  pounds 
(1  pound  ==  $4.86),  respectively.  The  pupils  pay  annual  registration 
and  tuition  fees.  The  enrollment  in  the  national  secondary  schools 
was  3,000  and  in  the  private  secondary  schools,  2,200. 

Data  taken  from : 

Ley  Organica  de  Instruccion.  Librerfa  francesa  cientffica,  Lima, 
1916. 

Plan  de  Educacion  y Disposiciones  relativas  al  mismo,  Minis- 
terio  de  Instruccion  Piiblica,  Lima,  1916,  1917  and  1918. 

Reglamento  de  Instruccion  Media.  Ministerio  de  Instruccion 
Publica,  Lima,  1912. 

Anales  de  la  Universidad  Mayor  de  San  Marcos,  Tomo  30. 

• Educacion  Nacional,  Boletm  1 and  2,  Lima. 

La  Universidad  del  Cuzco,  por  Luis  Valcarcel  (1913). 

Plan  de  Estudios  y Programas  para  los  Colegios  de  Segunda 
Ensenanza,  Ministerio  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Lima,  1917. 

Memoria  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Lima,  1917. 

Presupuestos  de  los  Colegios  Nacionales,  Lima,  Ano  de  1918-1919. 

SALVADOR. 

Under  the  provisions  of  the  enactments  published  on  December  7, 1911, 
December  17,  1917,  and  February  8,  1918,  secondary  education  com- 
prises: a Complementary  Course  of  one  year,  a General  Course  of 
Science  and  Letters  of  four  years,  and  a Professional  Preparatory  Course 
of  one  year.  These  studies,  except  those  of  the  sixth  year,  which  are 
given  at  the  University,  can  be  carried  on  in  the  Instituto  Nacional 
(National  Institute)  at  San  Salvador,  entirely  supported  by  the  State, 
and  in  secondary  schools  established  in  different  towns  with  official 
authorization.  Some  of  these  institutions  are  maintained  by  the  muni- 
cipalities and  others  receive  financial  help  from  the  Government,  but  as 
a rule  they  do  not  offer  the  complete  five-year  course.  In  1917  the  num- 
ber of  secondary  schools  was  17,  with  an  enrollment  of  about  2,200  pupils, 
including  those  of  the  Colegio  Tecnico-Prdctico  de  Sehoritas  (Technical- 
Practical  School  for  Girls)  which,  although  differently  organized,  is  con- 
sidered as  a secondary  school. 

To  enter  upon  the  secondary  school  course  the  pupil  must  take  an 
examination  in  writing,  Spanish  grammar,  arithmetic,  history  and  geog- 
raphy of  Central  America;  present  a certificate  of  primary  education 
(a  minimum  of  five  years),  be  11  years  old  and  pay  the  examination  fee. 
An  annual  registration  fee  is  also  required,  2 colones  in  the  Complemen- 
tary Course  and  4 colones  in  the  General  Course  (1  colon  — $0.60). 


28 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


Secondary  instruction  is  given  in  accordance  with  the  following  cur- 
riculum d 


Subjects. 

‘ Periods  a week  by  years. 

Comple- 

mentary 

course. 

General 

I. 

Course  of 

II. 

Science  and 

III. 

Letters. 

IV. 

Spanish 

5 

3 

3 

3 

3 

1 

1 

1 

1 

Greek  roots 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

Moral  and  civic  instruction 

1 

1 

1 

Geography  and  history 

5(6) 

6 

6 

4 

2 

6 

6 

3 

3 

3 

3 

2(3) 

3 

French 

3 

3 

3 

2 

2 

English 

3 

3 

3 

2 

2 

2 

2 

1(2) 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

2 

2 

Drawing 

3 

3 

3 

2 

‘ 2 

28(29) 

29 

31 

31(32) 

29(30) 

The  school  year  is  38  weeks.  Pupils  who  have  successfully  completed 
the  above  course  of  study  and  taken  the  proper  examination  obtain  the  dip- 
loma of  Bachiller  en  Ciencias  y Letras  (Bachelor  of  Science  and  Letters), 
which  c|ualifies  for  admission  to  the  Professional  Preparatory  Course. 

II.  The  Professional  Preparatory  Course  is  designed  to  prepare  the  stu- 
dent to  continue  his  work  at  the  University.  It  covers  one  year’s  work 
and  is  under  the  control  of  the  University.  The  curriculum  is  as  follows ; 

Preparatory  for  Law  and  Social  Sciences. 


Subjects. 


Periods 
a week. 


Prolegomena  of  law 

Logic  applied  to  law 

History  of  SaK'adorian  juridic  in.stitutions 

Elementary  Spanish  law 

History  of  contemporary  civilization 

Professional  ethics 

.Spanish  composition 

French  (translation  of  legal  works) 

English  (translation  of  legal  works) 


6 

3 

3 

3 

3 
2 

4 
3 
3 


Preparatory  for  Medicine  and  Pharmacy. 


Elements  of  anatomy  and  physiology 

Biological  physics 

Natural  history 

Microscopy 

Inorganic  and  organic  chemistry .... 

Spanish  composition 

French  (translation) 

English  (translation) 


6 

4 

5 
3 
5 
3 
2 
2 


‘On  January  15,  1920,  new  regulations  for  secondary  education  were  issued  by  the  Department 
of  Public  Instruction.  The  Complementary  Course  was  suppressed,  leaving  five  years  of  strictly 
secondary  education.  There  are  also  changes  in  the  number  of  periods  per  week  assigned  to  the 
different  subjects  of  the  curriculum. 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


29 


Data  taken  from; 

Diario  Oficial,  San  Salvador,  December  7,  1911;  December  18, 
1917;  February  8,  1918. 

Memoria  de  Instruccion  Piiblica,  San  Salvador,  1917. 

Libro  Rosado  de  El  Salvador,  San  Salvador,  April,  1918. 

URUGUAY. 

I.  Secondary  education  is  given  in  the  State  Liceos  (secondary  schools), 
in  semi-official  institutions  and  in  private  schools  that  conform  to  official 
regulations.  There  are  22  departmental  Liceos,  2 in  the  capital,  and 
2 others  called  “Sections  of  Secondary  Education,”  one  for  boys  and  one 
for  girls,  connected  with  the  University  of  Montevideo.  The  regular 
students,  i.  e.,  those  taking  the  regular  courses  of  the  Liceos,  pay  neither 
matriculation  nor  examination  fees;  the  students  of  the  other  secondary 
schools  are  obliged  to  pay  these  fees,  but  may  be  exempted  by  the 
Executive  Power. 

To  enter  the  Liceos  one  must  have  completed  the  fifth  year  of  the 
urban  schools  or  pass  an  entrance  examination ; however  it  appears  to  be 
necessary  to  finish  the  sixth  or  seventh  grade  in  order  to  follow  courses 
in  the  Liceos  of  the  capital,  or  to  pass  an  entrance  examination. 

Secondary  education  comprehends  four  years  of  study,  at  the  end  of 
which  the  pupil,  if  he  is  passed,  receives  the  certificate  of  suficiencia 
liceal  (secondary  studies),  which  entitles  him  to  enter  the  schools  of 
Commerce,  Agriculture,  Veterinary  Science,  Notarial  Studies,  and  the 
professional  preparatory  branch  of  secondary  education. 

On  October  20,  1911,  the  following  curriculum  was  adopted  as  an 
experiment : 

First  year. — Spanish,  mathematics,  French,  natural  history,  drawing,  national 
history  and  history  of  America,  geography,  physical  training. 

Second  year. — Spanish,  mathematics,  English  or  German,  drawing,  natural  history, 
geography,  physics  and  chemistry,  physical  training. 

Third  year. — Spanish,  French,  English  or  German,  drawing,  general  history, 
natural  history,  shorthand,  physical  training. 

Fourth  year. — Literature,  French,  English  or  German,  drawing,  general  history, 
philosophy,  cosmography,  civics,  shorthand,  physical  training. 

The  above  plan  was  on  trial  until  February  15,  1918,  when  the  follow- 
ing was  substituted  for  it : 

First  year. — Spanish,  French,  national  history  and  history  of  America,  natural 
history,  geography,  mathematics,  drawing,  hygiene  and  physical  training. 

Second  year. — Spanish,  French,  English  or  German,  mathematics,  physical  geog- 
raphy, natural  history,  history  of  America  and  national  history,  hygiene  and  physi- 
cal training. 

Third  year. — Spanish  (literature  and  composition),  French,  English  or  German, 
mathematics,  physics,  physical  geography,  universal  history,  chemistry,  commerce, 
hygiene  and  physical  training. 

Fourth  2/ear.— Spanish  (literature  and  composition,  elements  of  foreign  literature), 
mathematics,  French,  English  or  German,  universal  history,  chemistry,  cosmography, 
industries,  moral  and  civic  instruction,  hygiene  and  physical  training. 

The  class  period  is  45  minutes,  with  5 days  a week  and  180  school  days. 

II.  Professional  preparatory  instruction  constitutes  the  second  part 
of  the  Section  called  Secondary  and  Preparatory  Education.  It  consists 
of  two  years  and  varies  according  to  the  career  that  the  student  intends 
to  follow.  It  IS  imparted  in  the  “Sections”  connected  with  the  Uni- 


30 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


versity  of  Montevideo  and  in  the  Liceos  of  Salto,  Paysandu,  Melo  and 
Mercedes  in  accordance  with  the  following  curricula:^ 

Preparatory  for  Medicine. 

First  year. — Chemistry;  physics;  natural  history;  French;  English  or  German; 
philosophy;  physical  training. 

Second  year. — Chemistry;  physics;  natural  history;  philosophy;  literature;  physical 
training. 

Preparatory  for  Law. 

First  year. — Universal  history;  philosophy;  literature;  comprehensive  courses 
(theoretical-practical)  in  physical^atural  sciences;  French;  Enghsh;  German  or 
Italian;  physical  training. 

Second  year. — Universal  history;  philosophy;  literature;  comprehensive  courses 
(theoretical-practical)  in  physical-natural  sciences;  history  of  America  and  national 
history;  physical  training. 

Preparatory  for  Engineering. 

First  year. — Review  and  amphfication  of  mathematics;  drawing;  physics;  chem- 
istry; philosophy;  French;  English  or  German;  physical  exercises. 

Second  year. — Elements  of  advanced  algebra  and  analytical  geometry;  elements 
of  projective  and  descriptive  geometry;  elementary  mechanics;  modelling;  drawing. 

Preparatory  for  Architecture. 

First  year. — Review  and  amplification  of  mathematics;  drawing;  French;  English 
or  German;  physical  exercises. 

Second  year. — Elements  of  advanced  algebra  and  analytical  geometry;  elements 
of  projective  and  descriptive  geometry;  elementary  mechanics;  modelling;  drawing 

Preparatory  for  Surveying. 

First  year. — Review  and  amplification  of  mathematics;  topographic  drawing) 
geography  of  the  Repubhc;  French;  English  or  German;  physics;  physical  training- 

Second  year. — Elements  of  advanced  algebra  and  analytical  geometry;  projective 
and  descriptive  geometry;  topographic  drawing;  mineralogy  and  geology;  cos- 
mography; physical  training. 

Preparatory  for  Pharmacy. 

The  preparatory  studies  for  pharmacy  cover  one  year  and  comprehend  the  following 
subjects:  French;  English  or  German;  physics;  chemistry;  zoology  and  botany; 
physical  training. 

Preparatory  for  Dentistry. 

The  preparatory  studies  for  dentistry  cover  one  year  and  comprehend  the  following 
subjects:  French;  English  or  German;  physics;  chemistry;  physical  training. 

The  annual  budget  for  Secondary  and  Preparatory  education  is  about 
400,000  pesos  (1  peso  = $1,04  gold). 

Data  taken  from : 

Leyes  y Reglamentos  de  la  Universidad  de  la  Republica,  Mont 
video.  o- 

Memoria  de  Instruccion  Publica  de  1916  a 1918,  Montevideo. 

Diario  Oficial,  Montevideo,  February  13, 1918. 

Ley  de  Presupuestos  de  1916  a 1917,  Montevideo. 

VENEZUELA. 

According  to  Decree  No.  31  of  June,  1915,  Secondary  Education  is 
divided  into  two  courses:-  one  of  general  studies,  four  years  in  length, 
and  another  of  specialized  work,  for  two  years.  The  latter  compre- 
hends three  different  sections:  Philosophy  and  Letters,  Physical  and 

^Italian  is  an  elective  instead  of  English  or  German.  By  decree  of  August  31,  1917,  the  teaching  of 
Portuguese  was  included  in  the  curriculum  for  such  students  as  elect  to  matriculate  in  those  classes; 
he  course  covers  two  years. 


LATIN-AMEKICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


31 


Mathematical  Sciences,  and  Physical  and  Natural  Sciences.  In  the 
Liceos  (secondary  schools)  are  given  the  two  complete  courses:  the 
general,  and  the  specialized  with  its  three  sections.  In  the  Colegios 
(secondary  schools)  is  given  only  the  general  course,  although  in  some  of 
them  one  or  more  sections  of  the  specialized  course  are  offered. 

I.  In  order  to  enter  the  first  year  of  the  general  course  the  pupil  must 
possess  the  official  certificate  of  the  upper  primary  school : to  obtain  this 
certificate  it  is  necessary  to  have  done  the  work  of  the  six  primary  school 
grades  or  pass  an  entrance  examination  in  the  proper  subjects. 

The  curriculum  prescribed  for  the  Liceo  de  Caracas  (1917)  serves  as  a 
model  for  the  other  Liceos  and  Colegios. 


Subjects. 

Periods  a week  by  years. 

I. 

11. 

III. 

IV. 

3 

3 

3 

French  

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

6 

6 

6 

2 

6 

6 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

6 

3 

3 

3 

3 

Freehand  drawing 

2 

3 

Freehand  and  mechanical  drawing 

2 

2 

23 

24 

32 

22 

In  the  Liceo  de  Ninas  (Girls’  Secondary  School)  at  Caracas  the  following  subjects 
are  taught:  1,  Spanish  grammar,  composition  and  elements  of  Spanish  literature; 
2,  French  and  elements  of  French  literature;  3,  English  and  elements  of  English 
literature;  4,  arithmetic,  and  elements  of  geometry  and  algebra  (applied  to  every 
day  life);  5,  elements  of  natural  history,  chemistry,  cosmography,  meteorology; 
6,  household  management  and  bookkeeping;  7,  household  hygiene  and  care  of  the 
child;  8,  elements  of  universal  history  and  geography  and  of  Venezuela;  9,  drawing; 
10,  music;  11,  sewing,  embroidery,  etc;  gymnastics. 

II.  For  admission  to  the  specialized  course  it  is  necessary  to  have  been 
promoted  in  all  the  subjects  of  the  general  course,  or  to  take  an  examin- 
ation. 

The  studies  of  the  specialized  course  are: 

Section  of  Philosophy  and  Letters. 

First  year. — Latin,  Greek,  general  literature  and  history  of  literature,  philosophy, 
German,  freehand  drawing. 

Second  year. — Latin,  general  literature  and  history  of  literature,  history  of  phi- 
osophy,  German,  freehand  drawing. 


32 


LATIN-AMERICAN  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 


Section  of  Natural  and  Physical  Sciences. 

First  year. — Physics,  chemistry,  botany,  zoology,  elements  of  astronomy,  German, 
freehand  drawing. 

Second  year. — Physics,  chemistry,  mineralogy  and  geology,  general  biology,  Ger- 
man, freehand  drawing. 

Section  of  Physical  Sciences  and  Mathem.atics. 

First  year. — Physics,  chemistry,  algebra,  plane  and  solid  geometry,  German, 
mechanical  drawing. 

Second  year. — Physics,  chemistry,  rectilinear  and  spherical  trigonometry,  elements 
of  topography,  elements  of  astronomy,  German,  topographic  drawing. 

At  the  completion  of  the  specialized  course  and  after  passing  an 
examination,  the  student  receives  the  diploma  of  bachiller  (Bachelor) 
which  enables  him  to  matriculate  in  the  University. 

In  botany,  zoology,  physics,  chemistry,  mineralogy  and  geology,  six 
months’  laboratory  work  are  prescribed  as  complementary  to  the 
theoretical  instruction.  Physical  training  is  required. 

The  school  year  is  about  190  days  and  the  recitation  period  is  one  hour. 
There  are  17  national  secondary  schools  with  an  annual  budget  of 
300,000  bolivares  (1  bolivar  = $0,20  gold). 

Data  taken  from: 

Memoria  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Caracas,  1916. 

Memoria  de  Instruccion  Publica,  Caracas,  1918. 


HE  PAN  AMERICAN  UNION  Is  the  Inter- 


national  organization  and  office  maintained 
in  Washington,  p.  C.,- by  fhe  twenty-one 
American  republics,  as  follows:  Argentina,  Bolivia, 
Brazil,  Chile,  Colombia,  Costa  Rica,  Cuba,  Domini- 
can Republic,  Ecuador,  Quatemala,  Haiti,  Honduras/ 
Mexico,  Nicaragua,  Panama^  Paraguay,  Peru,  Salva- 
dor, United  States,  Uruguay  and  Venezuela.  It  is 
devoted  to  the  development  and  advancement  of  , 
commerce,  friendly  intercourse,  and  good  under- 
standing among  these  countries.  It  is  supported  by 
quotas  contributed  by  each  county,  based  upon  the 
population.  Its  affairs  are  administered  by  a Direc- 
tor General  and  Assistant  Director,  elected  by  and 
responsible  to  a Governing  Board,  which  is  com- : ' 
posed  of  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States 
and  the  diplomatic  representatives  in  . Washington 
of  the  other  American  governments.  These  two 
executive  officers  are  assisted  by  a staff  of  inter- 
national experts^  statisticians,  commercial  special- 
ists, editors,  translators,  compilers,  librarians,  clerks 
and  sten -^graphers.  The  Union  publishes  a Monthly 
Bulletin  in  English,  Spanish,  ' and  Portuguese 
which  is  a careful  record  of  Pan  American  progress, 
it  also  publishes  numerous  special  reports  and  pam- 
phlets on  various  subjects  of  practical  information. 
Its  library,  the  Columbus  Memorial  Library,  con- 
tains 40,000  volumes,  25,000  photographs,  160,000 
index  cards,  and  a large  collection  of  maps.  The 
Union  is  housed  in  a beautiful  building  erected  s 
through  the  munificence  of  Andrew  Carnegie. 


